Im a freshmen right now and Im lead snare in our line, but everbody hates me for it. Like when I write parts everyone just gets really pissed off, throws em down, and complains that (1) they suck (2) but we still cant play em. Theres a joke at our school, how many members of the drumline does it take to screw in a lightbulb. All of em'. The freshmen screws in the bulb and everyone complains about it. Does anyone have any advice on what to do?

How old is everyone else involved in the line?
Do you have an instructor?
Have you tried talking to the BD?

It may be really hard, but try and ignore their immature jokes and be the bigger person. If you give in and let them know its bugging you, they'll deffinately keep it up (I've seen it happen a lot!). If you really need to talk to one of them, talk to them when their alone. Just ask them what they have against you.
If all else fails, talk to your director.
Hope that helps

The rest of the lie is composed primarily of juniors and seniors, very few sophmores, and even fewer freshmen. So you can see where the tension would be. Weve got an instructor, but hes never there and when he is, hes look a thousand years old, so he doesnt really help. I dont know what r BD would do, i dont even know if he could stop them. I think Ill try ur approach drumrchic20 next time we reherse. thanks,

That is the exact story of my line! Except I play quads and i'm not a freshmen. But I resolved freshmen snare issue. The problem wuz that the freshmen snare player thought he wuz the best so he's kicked back to 3rd Chair. Behind no-one because there are no other snares. The only way the line will hate a freshmen like that is when they brag about it, try to show-off all the time, and walk around school trying to act like their the best.

This is another reason why I think that a freshman should not be given a position of leadership. Freshman have not earned the respect of the other members of the line yet. Being a leader is not about being the best player all the time. It is also about leading (thank you Captain Obvious) and being able to take control of the drumline and help them become better. That is something that can only been learned through experience. Freshman just don't have the experience and typically don't have the mental maturity to be able to lead.

I partially blame the band director for putting you in that position.

If you're having problems, talk to the instructor and band director and maybe they can help.

I agree with drumcorpsbc in questioning why a freshman is in charge of the line over juniors and seniors. That will definitely cause animocity, as they put in their time and are now their work is lost for some "fresh blood".

Well heres the crazy part. The BD's got me like paired with a junior right now for so called 'lead snare'. So its not like a freshmen is calling all the shots, but everybody stills hates me. I dont show off or anything, I just play my parts, so I dont know what to do. It may come down to a BD deal. But most of these guys are either dropping band or graduating next year which is gonna be even weirder since the lines gonna be predominanty lower-classmen.

Talk to the BD or just let the junior have the position.

Dude, take the line and ask them why the heck they keep ignoring and throwing down parts. if they say "it's because you're a freshmen", Then tell them, "Fine, then who else wants the title?" if a guy steps up then ask if the line would listen to him. If they say they will then give him the position of section leader. That's the civilized way of doing it. If you wanted to be an azz.... then you tell the guys up front that if they want to run their own line then challenge you and then beat them in a drum-off and tell them "That's why I'm leader, get over it!". If you act like an azz, you may get more enemies than friends or you may get respect because a freshmen can beat an upperclassman at playing. There are reasons that the BD selected you for leader. Playing ability, responsibility, potential, etc. are all factors for being the Section leader. Either way, just let the hassling run off the shoulder and just play your part. Not your fault if the line refuses to play clean or anywhere close to good.

If you've been put into the position you're in, you're obviously fit for it (unless the BD has seriously made a big mistake), so don't budge. If they want to be idiots, then it's only human nature. But eventually they'll realize that you're better and they can only learn things from you if given the chance. You might want to talk to your BD about it if you feel that this might become a problem with the cleanness of the line. But other than that, people will be people.

do you try to be tight with them and get to know them? And are you sure that you dont make it look like you look down on them. Because when you're a leader of a section, it isn't about looking down on everyone because you're better, but it's about leading a group and being the dominant voice, but not the rude one. This is happening to me this year, i am leader of the tenor line, and the other tenor player is a sophomore so he tends to hate me because i play a little better. You just gotta treat them like they're your family. Things go wrong all the time, theres always fights, but you should make sure ur at the same level as them, and never be cocky.

If you've done all of the above, then I'd leisurely talk to them one at a time. I came up to my tenor player the other day and i held his hand real tight, and we made a pact, that we're going to make it a good season, we're not going to fight, we're not going to go behind each others backs, and we're ALWAYS there for each other. In my school at least, you'd never hesitate to stick uo for someone in your section
outside of band, my drumline IS my family. Thats how u gotta be.

-mikki-

You need to talk to your line and ask them what they want out of you since well they are throwing down parts. Talk to your BD as well about this since he or she is the head person of the band. I am sure that the BD made no mistake in putting you in charge of the line. The rest of the line needs to grow up from it. In that meeting that you can have explain what YOU want out of the line. Also, ask if it would be better to listen to each other's ideas sometimes about doing things within the playing and other stuff. Maybe a junior in your line or a senior knows some stuff that be easier with a part of a song or cadence. Ask for their input on leading the line and such. Make them feel important. To me that is what I think it's going on.

The same thing is sort-of happing on my line. The thing is im not really big or strong so when i tell someone to do something they will just endup beating me up or ignoring me. I find the best solution is to let the line run itself. Everyone knows what to do. Just dont be to bossey. Just be set back and relaxed. People will respect you for being nice and not mean. If your mean your line will hate you and they will just try to tic you off. Or just get the best senoir and tell him to tell the line to listen up. If anyone has a problem with that YOU SERVE THEM!!!!!!!(no, that makes things worse.)

I'd say that I have seen a lot few lines like that but they will get over it. It might take a long, long time, but they will get over it. Try to show them some cool things to play or groove to without getting mad or anything, and if they get mad then just kill em with kindness, and just be another drummer in the line and not the best snare. Agree with them a lot too when they have ideas.

I was in that same position. My line hated me when I was a Freshman. They thought since I was new I didnt know anything. was me a a bunch of people on the line that were older than me. Finnaly after about 2 months of just playing and giving them all respect they all finnaly came to focus and started playing the right things. Ussualy they all mess around and ignore me when we setup. Just talk to em straight and tell them that they need to respect you. worked for me. It might work for you. but it really did suck haviing noone listen to you when your the captin.

seniority plays a huge role, whether you're the best player or not, whether the BD/instuctor gives you support or not, and whether you're really good friends with every member outside rehearsal or not.
it's a part of being in high school. the same happens in college as well, and in drumcorps. i'ts a natural state to NOT want to take orders, for lack of a better term, from someone that hasn't been there as long as you have.

tell them to stop being immature, learn their parts, practice, then earn their spot.

Don't "Tell" your line anything. Set the example. Get there 20 minutes early, leave 20 minutes after everyone else, and make sure your work is as close to spotless as possible. At that point, your clout becomes more deserved, and some might even think, "I've got to be better than the freshie," and take it like a challenge. The least that happens is you get better, and you'll have more street cred for next year.